Exercising apparatus



M. L. DETTINGER, J. A. WESPER AND C. SHEWELL. EXERCISING APPARATUS.

APPLICATlON FILED SEPT-28,1920.

1,390,095. Par/lltedsept. 6, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

M. L. DETTINGEH, J. A. WESPER AND CJSHEWELL.

EXERCISING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.28, 1920.

PatentedSept. 6, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- M. L. DETTINGER, J. A. WESPER AND C. SHEWELL.

EXEHCISING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION. FILED SEPT.28. 1920.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921..

3 SHEETS-)SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTMEZ.

MARTIN L. DETTI'NGER, JOHN A. 'WESPER, "AND CARROLL snnwnnnor PHILADEL-'PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXEBCISING APPARATUS.

j Specification of Letters Patent.

Application ,filed September 28, 1920. Serial No. 413,267.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that we, MARTIN L. DET- TINGER, JOHN A. Wnsrnn, and CARROLL'SHEWELL, citizens of the United States, re-

siding in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvementsin Exercising Apparatus, of which the'following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to provide an exercising apparatus of thespringtype with means whereby an electric current can be passed throughthe body of the user of the apparatus while exercising.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, illustrating our improved exercisingapparatus;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a side view;

Fig. a is a sectional elevation of a portion of the base, showing thelower terminal posts;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of theupper portion of theapparatus,"showing the upper terminal posts;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view'on the line 6 6, Fig. 1;

Fig. 7is a detached sectional View, showing one of the lower bindingposts and the parts connected therewith;

Fig. 8 is a detached sectional view of the upper binding post and thebrush; and

Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a modification.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a standard, rectangular in crosssectionin the present instance. This standardis secured toa base 2,which is arranged to be fastenedto a floor in any suitable manner. Theupper end of the standard is mounted in a socket 3 of a bracket 4secured to a wall or other support, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. In the'two opposite corners of the standard are longitudinal slots 5, clearlyshown in Figs. 3 and 6, for the reception of electric'wires 7. Betweenthe electric wires and the base and the sides of the slots isanon-conducting strip 8. The exposed edge of the wire is preferablyfiattened, as shown in Fig. 6.

Adjustably mounted on the standard 1 is a cross head 9, which issplitand has a transverse clamp screw 10 passing through one portionthereof and adapted to a thread in the upper portion so that the twoportions can be drawn tightly against the standard, holding the crosshead in the position in which it is adjusted, Extending through thePatented Sept. 6, 1921.

cross head is a transverse, rectangular bar 11, whichv is held inposition by screws 12. On this bar are adjustable clamp blocks 13, whichare split, as shown in Fig. 3. 33 is insulation located between theblocks and the bar. Clamp screws 1& extend'through one portion of eachclamp block and are screw threaded into the other portion so as toattach firmly the clamp blocks to the cross bar in the position to whichthey are adjusted. At the front of each clamp block is an eye 15 andsuspended from this eye is a spring 16 having a hand hold 17 at itsupper end. This spring is the ordinary type of exercising spring now incommon use in certain types of exercising apparatus.

In the base 2 are two binding posts 18 of ordinary type and a terminalscrew 19 having a threaded end is adapted to a threaded opening in eachbinding post 18. This terminal screw has a head 20. The screw 19 extendsthrough a bushing 21 of non-conducting material and the head fitsagainst the shoulder in this opening. On the outer surface of thebushing is a screw thread adapted to a threaded opening in the base 2.

The binding post terminal screw and bushing are clearly shown in thedetached View, Fig. 7. The wire 7 extends into. an opening in theterminal screw 19 and is soldered therein.

Mounted on the cross head 9 are two terminal posts 22, which havethreaded stems 23 adapted to a threaded opening in a nonconductingbushing 24. This bushing has an external thread, which is adapted to athread of an opening in the cross head, the parts being assembled asshown in Fig. 5.

In the stem 23 is a recess 25 in which is located a contact. brush 26.'Back of this brush is a spring 27, which tends to keep the brush incontact with the exposed portion of the wire 7. When the cross head isadjusted vertically and secured in the adjusted position, the twobrushes 26 on opposite sides of the standard bear againstthe exposedwires in the slots in the standards. On each clamp block 13 is a bindingpost 28 and. a wire 29 extends from each binding post'22 on the crosshead 9 to the binding post 28 on the clamp block so that, when a personexercising grasps the hand holds 17, a current of electricity passesthrough the arms and body of the person exercising,

- end of the standard, as shown in Fig. 9

This bracket may have an extension fl", which may carry a transformer ormedical coil 30 connected to the binding posts 18 on the bracket.

It Will be seen that when an exercising apparatus of this type is used,an electric current will be passed through the bodyof the personexercising and the amount of current can be regulated by any suitableresistance box placed in the circuit, but not shown in the drawings. Thedevice can be adjusted to accommodate persons of different heightswithout breaking the electrical connections.

Resting on the base standard is a ring 2 and surrounding the 31 ofnon-conducting material, preferably of rubber, which will preventshort-circuiting in the event of the cross head falling. On the two bars11 at each side of the cross head 9 are rings 32 and if the clamp blocksare moved against the rings 32 on the'rod 11 they also prevent shortcircuiting. 7

We claim:

1. The combination in an exercising apparatus, of a standard; electricwires thereon; an adjustable cross head mounted on the standard andhaving bars projecting therefrom; clamp blocks adjustably mounted on thebars; a spring suspended from each clamp block; a handhold attached to"each spring; contacts on the cross head adapted to bear upon the wiresof the standard; and connections between the adjustable 'clamp blocksand the contacts so that when the handholds are grasped an electriccurrent will pass through the body of the person ex- .ercising.

2. The combination of a standardhaving a groove at each side; a wirelocated in each groove and having an exposed surface; an adjustablecross head mounted on the standard; brushes carried by the cross headand adapted to bear agamst the exposed portion of the wires; and springssuspended from the cross head and having hand holds, each spring beingconnected to the brushes, so that, whent-he hand holds are grasped, anelectric current will pass 'throughthe body of the person exercising.

3. The combination in a standard, of a base in which the standard islocated; a

bracket supporting the upper end of the 'cross' section, and havingstandard, the standard being rectangular in longitudinal grooves atopposite corners; a wire located in each groove; a non-conducting stripback of eachwire in its groove; binding posts on the base connected tothe wires; an adjustable cross head having brushesarranged to bearagainst the exposed surface of the wires; a bar carried by the crosshead; springs mounted on the bar and having hand holds, the brushesbeing electrically connected withthe hand holds and springs.

4:. T hecombination of a standard; a base in which. the standard ismounted; a bracket supporting the upper end of the standard, saidstandard having two longitudinal grooves therein; a wire mounted in eachgroove; means for placing the wires in an electric circuit; a cross;head adjustably mounted on the standard, but held from turning thereon,said cross head having a bar projecting at either side thereof; insulated clamp blocks mounted on the bar at each side'of the cross head;exercising springs carried by each; clamp block; hand holds suspendedfrom the springs; brushes mounted on the cross' head andbearing againstthe wires of the standard andconnected to the clamp blocks so thatcurrent passing through the wires will pass through the body of theperson exercising. f 5; The combination of a base; abracket; a standardsupported by the base and bracket, said standard being rectangular incross section and having longitudinal grooves therein; a cross "headadjustably mounted onithe standard and having a rectangular barprojecting, from each side thereof; clamp blocks mounted on the bars;exercising springs carried by the clamp blocks; hand holds suspendedfrom the springs brushes mounted on the cross head;

andhconnecting, wires extending brushes to the clamp blocks. V

6. The combination .of a standard; a cross head .mounted thereon; a barprojecting at from the ,eachiside of the cross head; adjustable clampblocks mountedon the bar; exercising springs suspended from the clampblocks; a

ring of non-conducting material encircling the standard at'its base toprevent the cross head coming in contact with the base; and a ring ofnon-conducting material encircling a bar at each side of the cross headso as to prevent the clamp blocks coming in contact with the cross headwl 1 MARTIN L. DETTINGER.

JOHN .AJWESPER. CARROLL SHEWELL.

